Lawson-Fisher Associates was proud to participate in the ACEC Indiana Education and Workforce Foundation’s Big Dreams, Bright Futures Engineering Movie Day, a free community event held Saturday, May 2, at Carmel Midtown Plaza.
The event brought together ACEC Indiana member firms, families, students, and community members for a day focused on curiosity, creativity, and the role engineering plays in shaping the world around us. Through hands-on STEM activities and special screenings of ASCE’s Dream Big and Cities of the Future, attendees had the opportunity to see how engineering ideas become real-world solutions, from essential infrastructure to the cities of tomorrow.
For LFA, the event was also an opportunity to support an organization that plays an important role in strengthening and advancing Indiana’s engineering industry. ACEC Indiana helps connect firms across the state through advocacy, education, workforce development, and professional collaboration. Its Education and Workforce Foundation extends that mission by helping introduce young people to engineering careers and creating early opportunities for students to imagine themselves in the profession.
LFA Indianapolis Water Resources Engineer Charlie Dewes, PE, represented the firm at the event, helping demonstrate one of the many career paths available within civil engineering. Water resources engineering touches communities in practical and meaningful ways, including stormwater management, drainage design, flood mitigation, and resilient infrastructure planning. By sharing that work with families and students, Charlie helped show how civil engineers solve problems that directly affect public safety, community growth, and quality of life.
Several hundred families with children attended the event, stopping by activity tables hosted by ACEC Indiana member firms to learn more about engineering in an approachable, interactive setting. Each activity was designed to spark interest in STEM and help connect classroom concepts to the infrastructure people rely on every day.
Events like Big Dreams, Bright Futures reflect the importance of visibility in the engineering profession. Many students may not fully understand what civil engineers do or how broad the field can be until they meet professionals, ask questions, and see engineering concepts in action. For college students and recent graduates considering their next step, that same visibility matters. It shows that civil engineering is not only a technical profession, but also a collaborative, community-focused career with opportunities to make a lasting impact.
LFA values its involvement with ACEC Indiana and the opportunity to work alongside peer firms to support the future of the profession. As Indiana continues to grow and invest in infrastructure, developing and encouraging the next generation of engineers remains essential to the strength of our communities and our industry.
We are grateful to ACEC Indiana and the ACEC Indiana Education and Workforce Foundation for hosting this meaningful event, to ASCE for providing #DreamBig and Cities of the Future, and to the participating firms and volunteers who helped make the day a success.
Learn more: https://www.acecindiana.org/foundation-events/ #acec